Vanilla Bean Frosting

This all-purpose vegan frosting is especially tasty on carrot cakebut can be used for any dessert that calls for a rich, creamy topping. The recipe gets its incomparable flavor from seeds scraped from a fresh vanilla bean. Seeding vanilla beans is easy; all you have to do is cut the bean in half lengthwise and use the back (dull side) of a knife to scrape out the soft paste of tiny seeds inside. The pods can be saved for later and used to infuse maple syrup, cooked fruit compotes, and hot cereal with vanilla flavor. Or try tucking the pod into your box of granola to scent it with vanilla!

Ingredients

5 ounces pitted whole dates, chopped

¾ cup unsalted raw cashews

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Instructions

Combine the dates, cashews, vanilla extract, and seeds from the vanilla bean in a blender. Add just enough water to cover the mixture. Let stand for 45 minutes or until dates and cashews are softened. Cover and blend until smooth, adding water if it’s too stiff to easily blend.